Folding leg construction for tables, etc



Aug. 16, 1949. D. H. HAYDEN 2,479,492

FOLDING LEG CONSTRUCTION FOR TABLES, ETC.

Fil ed March 9, 1945 INVENTOR 26 i ,DaazkZJiomerfLkzyd-an Patented Aug. 16, a 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE romaine LEG 'ooNsmUormoN -FGR TABLES, David Homer Hayden, Sarasota, its. ss's gntr to Elinor H. Mayer and Deming n. Hemiaboth Application Maren 9, 1945. s mi No -581,904 2 Claims. (01. 311-99) The invention relates to folding leg attachments for tables and the like and seeks to provide a mechanism of this sort of simple, effective construction and which is particularly adapted and designed for economical maufacture, supporting strength, and simple assembly.

The main object is to provide a folding leg attachment that will be convenient for use in the construction of such articles and of easy repair or replacement of parts.

Another object is to provide a construction that does not require any preparation of either the table frame or the leg for the installation.

Another object is to provide a construction that requires no special tool for the assembly.

Another object is to provide a device which frictionally holds the leg in folded position and which has an easily actuated latch for holding the leg in extended position.

The invention consists of the features hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the preferred form in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 shows a fragment of a table top and frame in section with a leg attached and in open or supporting position.

Fig. 2 shows the leg in folded position.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view, the top being omitted, showing the leg in the position of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the plane of the line BB of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a part of a table top frame with the bracket or socket attached to it.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a fragment of a leg and attached latch and hinge parts.

Fig. 7 is a side View showing the supporting socket with a modified form of latch or catch.

The frame 1, top 8 and leg 9 may be of any suitable construction. The socket or U-shaped bracket 10 is formed of sheet metal to fit in the corner of the frame. It has a back ll and two side flanges l2 and I3 and is secured in place in the frame for instance by screws 14 and IS.

A hinge plate I6 is secured to the leg by a number of screws l1 and has a sleeve is through which a hinge pin or screw 19 passes to support the leg between the flanges I2 and 13. The sleeve I8 is located at the end of the leg when attached to it. The same screw I9 serves to support one end of the latch spring 20. The other arm of the spring passes through an eyelet lug 2| on the flange [3 so that the spring is biased in position to resiliently and frictionally engage and hold 2 the butt of the leg in the folded-up position of Fig. 2. Preferably the upper end of the leg is provided with a plate 22 which may serve as an abutment for the latch spring in the folded position of the leg.

The socket 10 is provided with an integral flange or lug 23 against which the plate 22 abuts when the leg is extended so that the weight of the table frame and top is borne by the hinge screw is in the socket and by the lug 23 which is a part of the socket.

To hold the leg in the extended or supporting position of Fig. 1, I provide a spring pressed pivoted latch 25 which engages a projecting lug 26 carried by the flange 24 of the socket member ii]. The latch 25 is pivoted to the leg by a screw 26 and pressed toward the latching position by a spring 21. One end 28 of the spring is driven into the leg and the other end 29 presses against the latch.

In the inactive or folded position of the leg, the latch 25 engages the pin 30 which is driven into the leg. The stationary lug '26 may be secured to the frame by a screw 3| which passes through flange 25 of the socket. In its preferred form the lug has a projection 32 which is beveled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so as to more readily interlock in the hole 33 in the latch 25 when the leg is extended. The latch 25 has a finger piece as in convenient position to be engaged by the thumb to release the latch when desired. As the leg is held frictionally in the closed or foldedup position it is only necessary to grasp the leg and swing it into the supporting or extended position, no latch release being necessary.

In the form shown in Fig. 7, the latch 25 is spring pressed as in Fig. l but in this case it has a projection 33 which interlocks with a flange 24' carried by the socket to hold the leg in the extended or supporting position. The finger piece 35 is in a position convenient for operation to release the latch.

Changes may be made in the details set forth without departure from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A table leg hinge construction comprising an elongated bracket for attachment to the table frame, a leg hinged to the upper outer end of the bracket, a spring actuated latch fastened on the leg and having means of interlocking with the bottom of the bracket to hold the leg in supporting position, and a U-shaped spring having one of its legs fastened at its end to the bracket and having its other leg fastened midway its ends to said bracket, the connecting leg of said spring being free and shaped to engage and frictionally hold the table leg in folded position.

2. In combination, a table leg support comprising an elongated U-shaped socket adapted to be secured to a table top and having a stop lug within the socket near the top of the connecting wall thereof and a catch outside of the socket near the lower end thereof, a table leg having a hinge plate secured along one side thereof, a hinge pin passing through opposite walls of the socket near the top thereof and opposite the stop lug and having a bearing in said hinge plate at the upper end of the leg, a spring pressed latch hinged to said leg and interlocking with the catch outside of said socket when the leg is extended and a substantially U- REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,421,541 Nolty July 4, 1922 1,529,482 Hall Mar, 10, 1925 1,785,616 Corporon Dec. 16, 1930 

